Chapter 21 ~ #4
“That’s Ethan,” The Ghost points at Cookie Monster. “Fallon and Rowan. You can call me Xander.” The Ghost’s eyes or eye focuses distinctively on me.
“I am sooo confused,” Mason mumbles. He’s clearly realised what I have.
This is the founding members of The Black Roses—a black ops security firm that works a little in the grey with the ACIC.
They weren’t always on the straight and narrow in terms of their methods but seemed to always have good intentions.
“I was too, don’t worry.” Cal takes a seat at the counter, beside Rory who clinks mugs with him.
“Look at you being all polite and conversation starting and shit,” Lindsey says sweetly, kissing The Ghost, Xander’s cheek. He raises a scarred hand, resting it on the back of her neck.
“You here to tell us you’re leaving?” Ethan walks over to Rory. I tense and Mason inches closer.
Ethan raises one eyebrow at us but continues his path, ruffling Rory’s hair. He casually leans against the edge of the counter, crossing his arms.
Rory smacks his hand, rolling her eyes. “You’re making it hard to miss you dorks.”
“You’re leaving?” Cal says in a small voice.
Rory turns to him, guilt shining in her eyes. Her hand rests on his arm. “Cal…you know I–”
“It’s fine,” Cal interrupts, “I don’t care. You were always going to leave anyway. I knew you would do this.” He picks up his hot chocolate, knocking off Rory’s hand as he storms off.
Rory goes to go after him but Ethan puts his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, Rory. Let him go.”
Lindsey gives us a tight smile before hurrying after Cal.
Rory’s shoulders slump—pain in her features. I ignore everything, focusing entirely on her.
Ethan reluctantly moves out of the way so I can collect Rory in my arms. She squishes her face into my chest and Mason shifts in to hug her from behind.
“He’s so mad at me,” Rory whispers. My heart breaks at the anguish in her quiet voice.
“He’s just disappointed, angel,” Mase tells her, rubbing her back. Rory doesn’t say anything so I’m inclined to believe that she disagrees.
“Cal just needs time, Rory.” I look up at Fallon. He’s watching us with a sad expression.
They all are.
Rory exhales deeply before lifting her head.
It’s okay, I assure her with my eyes.
She shakes her head once. Guilt and doubt swirls in those dark brown, gold irises.
Mason slips his hand into hers when she turns around, my front pressing against her back as she leans against me. I wrap my arms around her waist, kissing the crown of her head.
“When?” Xander asks simply.
“Tomorrow. Drake warned me about dear old dad getting too comfortable with the Dark Riders. I should have left weeks ago.” Rory puts her hand on mine, resting on her stomach.
“Where are you going?” Rowan rumbles.
“We have a property,” is all I tell them.
“In your name?” Fallon asks me. I shake my head.
“Untraceable?” He pushes and I simply nod. “Good.”
“You don’t think going with friends of The Slayer will cause more trouble than it’s worth?” Ethan focuses the conversation back on Rory.
“Where better to hide than with The Slayer?” Rory plays along with the nickname almost mockingly.
“Really, Aurora?” Rowan demands. “You’re going to put a target on your back like that?” He steps forward to come closer. Before I can move, Mason shifts in front of Rory, protectively.
Rowan takes a single step back, looking at Mason like he slapped him. Rowan’s gaze swings back to Rory, covering the hurt that flickers in his dark irises before it’s gone.
“Mase.” Rory places her hand on the centre of Mason’s back. “Rowan would never hurt me,” she murmurs.
Mason stares at Rowan for a moment or two longer before shifting so that she’s visible again.
“And neither would Luc, Rowan,” Rory says sternly to the mountain before her voice softens.
“I didn’t come here to ask for permission.
I know you offered for me to stay here but you know that wouldn’t work.
You need to be here and I can’t stay in this house all day, every day and not have to go into town at some point where I would get recognised. I can’t stay in this town.”
“You know we would go with you,” Ethan says softly.
Lindsey comes back—Xander instantly tugging her into his arms.
“I know.” I hear the emotion in Rory’s voice.
Fallon asks a few more questions about our security and I answer them honestly. It’s obvious they care about Rory.
We talk until Mase gets a call from Jace wondering where we are. Cal still hasn’t come back out by the time we make the move to leave after Rory gets everyone’s numbers.
I admire how she’s eighteen and has survived without a phone. Hell, I couldn’t do it.
“We’ll visit,” Lindsey promises, pocketing the address to the property.
“You better.” Rory hugs her tightly. There’s a few tears from her and Lindsey. Mason and I let the girls have their space.
“You take good fucking care of her,” Rowan says gruffly, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“We will.” I shake his hand. The other members of the team drift towards us to give their own version of a threat, promising death if we hurt Rory.
Mason and I just go along with it. It’s good it was us who came and not the others. They wouldn’t have been able to keep their mouths shut.
“Oh!” Lindsey pulls back from their hug, wiping her eyes. “I have a surprise for you.”
She hurries off and returns with a leather sheath that looks adjustable for either Rory’s leg or waist—a perfect fit for her knife.
Rory squeals and gushes over it. She pulls her knife from what looks like a homemade loop she’s stitched into her jeans and slides it into the sheath.
“Happy birthday, babe.” Lindsey side hugs Rory, showing her how to attach it to her waist and if she wanted it on her thigh.
The holster is the same soft, high quality leather as the knife.
“Be safe and call. You have a phone now—use it. Nobody can crack our phones, thanks to Fallon.” Lindsey looks up at Fallon who nods.
“Same with Rory’s,” I tell them. Rory wraps her arm around my waist, squeezing gently as she leans into me. I kiss her temple and put my arm around her shoulders.
Lindsey’s practically beaming at us. Her men are stone cold as they stare, apart from Fallon.
“If you ever need help with a case, we should work one together,” Fallon tells me.
“Uh, yeah, for sure,” I say surprised.
“Fallon’s a fan,” Ethan whispers to me loudly.
“Yeah and I can admit it, dickhead,” Fallon shoots back.
“Okay, okay, we gotta go,” Rory calls out, an amused grin on her lips.
Lindsey’s men all hug Rory, pretending not to get emotional.
We walk out and they don’t follow us, saying goodbye from the door.
As we’re driving home, Rory’s silent. I glance over briefly and see her playing with the sheath and knife.
I take one hand of the steering wheel, resting it on her thigh. She puts her hand on mine and our fingers end up entwined.
“They seem nice,” Mason offers.
“They like you,” Rory tells us. “And they don’t like a lot of people.”
“You said they asked you to stay.” I rub my thumb over the top of her hand.
“Yeah. They have enough to worry about without having to look after me.” Rory sighs. “I couldn’t stay here in this town, anyway but I hate that I’m leaving Cal. It took a while for him to trust me and now I’m leaving him behind.” Sadness slinks back into her voice.
Mason leans forward and squeezes her shoulders reassuringly. Rory leans back against the car seat.
“Is he Lindsey’s son?” I question. She looks young to have a teenager but I suppose it’s a possibility.
“Yes, but they’re not related. Cal’s parents were killed in a case the team worked a few years back. Lindsey adopted him,” Rory says softly.
“Shit. Poor Cal. What–”
The sound of screeching tires is all I hear before a car barrels into the driver's side of the mustang sending us spinning.